First Principles

In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas E. Ricks embarks on a profound intellectual journey to understand the foundational principles of the United States. His revelatory work, "First Principles," delves into the often-overlooked yet critical influence of ancient Greek and Roman classics on America's Founding Fathers. Moving beyond the commonly cited Enlightenment thinkers, Ricks meticulously examines how figures like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison were deeply immersed in the works of Plutarch, Xenophon, Epicurus, Aristotle, Cato, and Cicero. He explores their distinct approaches to classical knowledge – from Washington's absorption through elite culture, Adams's focus on Roman law, Jefferson's deep dive into Epicurean philosophy, to Madison's scholarly study of ancient political science. By illuminating how these ancient texts shaped their ideals, debates, and ultimately, the very structure of the new American nation, Ricks offers arresting and fresh portraits of these legendary leaders, providing startling new insights into their characters and the enduring principles they enshrined.